Hello everyone.
My wife would like to donate food/toys/clothes to the needy. We want to know if they're any small groups/organizations where we can personally give these items to families in need. Christmas is coming up and the thought that some children won't receive a gift is very upsetting. We want to help make a small difference in someone's life.
Could someone point us in the right direction. Thanks.
I usually give my old stuff to the Salvos.
Please make sure that it's in decent condition. They don't need people unloading more useless junk.
Where are you located? There is a wonderful charity called "St Kilda Mums" and it's sister down the coast Geelong Mums.
Blurb from website: We are a volunteer-run not-for-profit organisation based in St Kilda, Melbourne. We rehome new and pre-loved baby goods and nursery equipment to families in need. We believe that by reusing and recycling much-loved babies’ and children’s gear, we not only share the joy of motherhood with each other, but we save the earth’s precious resources too.
I tried to donate some very solid office desks in excellent condition to Vinnies. First I was told that only some Vinnies accept furniture, and anyway, it would be best if I arrange my own transport (really?!). After that I was told that they only accept new, unused items they can sell in one of their shops. They apparently are not interested in keeping the furniture and trying to find someone who may need it. So the desks/tables (seriously: in excellent condition) landed in my garage and garden shed. Just my experience, hope you will have better luck.
you should look into something like Zilch.
It's almost always better to sell any items you have and donate the money.
Most people in need have specific, immediate requirements, and asking a charity to store and manage a bunch of goods that may or may not be needed is taking them away from useful work.
If your response to this is, but my donation would not raise much monetary value, then consider if it is worth making the donation. If the "good condition furniture" would only sell for $25, then maybe it is more effective to sell it for $25, give the money to charity and they can then easily offer that money to a needy person to choose the right furniture for themselves locally, than transport and store bulky items.
Note that many people in need may be reluctant to accept used toys or clothes for their kids - especially in the playground there is a stigma against poverty and secondhand items.
An exception to this is some food. There are charity pantries and kitchens that will receive food. Try contacting your local community centre to get the numbers.
If the donation is of new merchandise, Kmart, bigw etc have gift collection points in the lead up to Christmas.
Anything we don't need we pretty much give to family and Vinnies, which is close to where we shop.
Every year near Christmas we try to put some presents at the bottom of the Kmart Wishing Tree (http://www.kmart.com.au/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentTem…).
Every year my wife's friend's parents buy around $3000 worth of toys on Boxing Day at discounted prices and store it in their garage. They then hold a toy fair at their church the next year and members would buy the toys at the discounted prices and gift the toys to the Salvos for needy children.
I remember in primary school, we were given bags to put our old clothes in. They were sent off to the smith family. https://www.thesmithfamily.com.au/
Might be a good starting point, they use to have local bins where you can drop off old clothes. It's mostly council owned now.